Relieving-gear for railroad-scales.



PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

J. P. NEWBLL.

RELIEVING GEAR FOR RAILROAD SCALES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1903.

4SHEETSSHEET 1.

Lw W H W W WWW mm m n NQ fl Ww h No. 779,782. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. J.P. NBWELL. RELIEVING GEAR FOR RAILROAD SCALES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

J. Pl NEWELL.

RELIEVING GEAR FOR RAILROAD SCALES.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 4, 1903.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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U 159 :Z flaw aiffal'nqy No. 779,732. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. J. P.NEWBLL.

RELIEVING GEAR FOR RAILROAD SCALES. APPLICATION FILED-MAY 4, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented January 10, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PETTUS NEWVELL, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

RELlEVlNG-GEAR FOR RAILROAD-SCALES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,732, dated January10, 1905.

Application filed May 4, 1903- Serial No. 155,646.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LJ OSEPH Pm'rrns NEWELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates", and a resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah andState of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Relieving-Gear forRailroad-Scales, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings as a part thereof.

My invention is intended to be applied to the usual railroad or platformscales; and it has for its object to provide an improved relieving-gearpossessing new and useful features hereinafter described and claimed;and my invention operates to support the frame of the track-platformclear of the knife-edges of the scale while the latter are not beingused for weighing cars in order that trains may be run over thetrack-platform without injuring or wearing the weighing mechanism.

One of the features of my invention is that its mechanism for supportingthe track-platform clear of the knife-edges is independent of themechanism provided for lifting the track-platform off the knife-edges.

The difiiculty with relieving-gear in which the track-platform-liftingdevices and the supporting devices are connected to be operatedsimultaneously is that either the gear is too heavy for hand operationor too light for sta bility and strength. The advantage to be gained byconstructing relieving-gear so as to make the lifting and supportingdevices thereof independent of each other is therefore apparent. Thelifting mechanism not having to support anything except the weight ofthe track-platform needs only be made of such strength as required forits particular work, and the result is that this mechanism is much moreconveniently operated than otherwise, and it will also become evidentthat the supports used by me, consisting of movable blocks adapted to beinserted under the stringers of the track-platform and withdrawn again,provide an efficient and easily-operated device for the purposeintended. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken on a line justback of the central stringer of the track-bed frame. Fig. 2

is a partial plan of the foundation or trackbed of the scale, thetrack-lifting devices and the track-platform being removed. Fig. 3 is across-section of Fig. 1 on a line just to the left of the sprocket-gear.Fig. i is a crosssection of Fig. 1 on a line just to the left of therock-shaft (Z, by which the lifting force is directly applied to theplatform-frame. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of part of the devicesemployed for lifting the platform-frame. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, andFig. 7 is an end elevation, of a part of the devices employed forsupporting the track-platform clear of the weighing mechanism. Fig. 8 isa longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1, showing a device of differentconstruction for operating the lifting mechanism. Fig. 9 is a likelongitudinal section showing still another construction for the samepurpose. Fig. 10 is a crosssection, and Fig. 11 a plan, of other meansfor shifting the movable blocks 1. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of therock-shaft, lever, and cam used for lifting the track-platform; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the iron block against which the cambears.

Referring now to said drawings and reference-letters thereof, Arepresents the usual foundation for the railroad or track scale, thesame comprising longitudinal timbers a, transverse timbers a, and otherlongitudinal and transverse timbers variously arranged in accordancewith the nature of the ground.

The scale mechanism not constituting any part of my invention is omittedfrom the illustrations. As shown in the drawings, the trackplatform isresting on the supports provided for that purpose clear of theknife-edges. The mechanism provided for lifting the track-platform offthe knife-edges, so as to allow the insertion and retraction of thesupportingblocks, consists of the following mechanism: On the timbers aare pillow-blocks I), and mounted on the latter are boxes q, in whichare journaled the ends of rock-shafts (Z. Said rock-shafts arerespectively provided with a rigid arm or lever c and a pair of cams ff. Secured to the under side of the platformstringers g are blocks h. Intrack-platforms of ordinary length rock-shafts cl and the device thereonare provided at each end of the platform, only one being shown forconvenience. In platforms of unusual length an intermediate or thirdshaft and its appurtenances could be provided. By pulling the arm 0 inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 the cams f f will liftagainst the blocks and raise the platform clear of the knife-edges. Asshown in Fig. 1, the arms (2 are operated by a sprocket chain gear C,comprising a hand-wheel c, keyed on the horizontal shaft 0 sprocket 0chain c", sprocketgear 0", keyed on the shaft c, and a drum 0 on thelatter. To such drum are secured the inner ends of the chains 0 and c,which chains are fastened to the ends of the rods 2'. If

deemed expedient, the rods 2' may be made in two sections, connected bya turnbuckle a, as l shown in Fig. 1, to facilitate any necessaryadjustment of the length of said rods. To lift the track-platform, thehand-w heel c is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, theeffect of which will be to pull the arms atoward the center, it being understoochof course, that the cams ff and arm a, comprised with in thelifting mechanism at the opposite end of the lifting-gear, would be soarranged as to operate oppositely from the device shown in order thatthe arms at both ends of the relieving-gear may be drawn toward thecenter by operating the hand-wheel c. The instant the hand-wheel c isreleased the weight of the track-platform on the camsff would reversethe action of the lifting device and allow the track-platform to dropback on the knifeedges or the supporting-blocks Z, as the case may be.

The mechanism for supporting the trackplatform clear of the knife-edgesof the scale comprises bolsters 3', provided on their under side withiron plates 7". (See Figs. 6 and 7.) Suitably secured to the transversetimbers (4 of the frame of the track-bed are wooden blocks Z1, and onthe latter are iron plates Z:. To secure the plates Zr in place, theyare provided on the bottom with ribs Z to be inserted in groovestherefor provided in the blocks Zr. Sliding on the plates Z: are ironblocks 1. The construction of such blocks is more clearly shown in Figs.6 and 7. As there seen, the same are provided at their two ends withperforated lugs Z to receive coupling-pins m, connecting said blocks Zwith the rods n. The described supporting device is provided atintervals in suflicient number to properly support the weight of apassing train while the scale is not being used. It will be noted thatall the sliding blocks Z are connected in series by the rods 11, so asto bemoved simultaneously. The position of such blocks is shifted asrequired byoperatingthe lever Thelatter, as shown, is adapted to beoperated by the foot. Said levers is keyed on a rock-shaft p, which isjournaled in bearings wand is provided with forked arms 0, with whichthe rods a are connected. When desiring to move the supporting-blocksZ,the track-platform islifted in the first instance by operating thedevice controlled by the handwheel 0. Assuming my relieving-gear to bein the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, the next thing to bedone would be to throw the lever .s so as to move the blocks Z fromunder the bolsters]. Thelifting mechanism is thereupon released to seatthe track-platform on the knife-edges of the scale. To again raise thetrack-platform clear of the knife-edges, the track-platform is againlifted by the lifting mechanism, and the blocks Z are then returned totheir position under the bolsters y' by operating the lever 8. Torestrain the blocks Z while being shifted from and under the bolsters 7"against moving laterally out of place, the plates is are provided with acentral depression or groove Z5, and the blocks Z have bosses or aprotuberance on their under sides adapted to slide in such groove.

Instead of constructing the mechanism for shifting the blocks Z so as tomove the latter longitudinally such mechanism could obviously besubstituted by other mechanism, as shown, for example, in Figs. 10 and11, adapted to move such blocks Z transversely. It is also self-evidentthat the means described for lifting the track-platform, so as to insertthe blocks Z, may be substituted by other devices" such, for example, asare illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. In Fig. 8 of such example thegearwheel J is replaced by a quadrant-gear If, operated by a worm-gearZ, and in Fig. 9 the lifting device comprises a screw-jack u, operatedby beveled gears 0', shaft 10, and beveled gear 1 controlled byahand-wheel. The construction shown by me in Fig. l is deemed preferable,however, because the same assures that the lifting mechanism willoperate to hold the track-platform above its normal supports, theknife-edges, or the blocks Z for only the length of time that theoperator has the wheel 0 under control and will cause such liftingmechanism to be released and the traek-plat form reseated on its normalsupports the instant the manual control of such wheel 0 is released,thus protecting the lighter lifting mechanism against injury by apassing train. in other words, such device assures that the liftingmechanism will be protected against any carelessness on the part of theoperator in neglecting to reseat the track-platform on its said propersupports, while in the use of a lifting appliance such as illustrated inFigs. 8 and 9 it would require some action on the part of the operatorin order to reseat the track-platform on its normal supports. Thevertical hand-wheel c is also more conveniently installed in the casinginclosing the weighing-beam than would be a horizontal hand-wheel.

The devices shown in Figs. 10 and 11 for shifting the blocks Z comprisea vertical axle 2, journaled in bearings and s. ()n said axle are rigidarms 2 5, each made with curved ends. The blocks Z are made with an eyeZ,

ITO

in which are inserted the ends of the arms .2 and the rods n are madewith slots 91, in which are inserted the ends of the arms 5". Themovement of the rods n is thus communicated through the shaft 2 and arms2 .2 to blocks Z, which are shifted transversely under and from underthe frame of the track-platform for the purpose described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a railroad-scales, in combination with a track-platform, the frameof the track-bed, the knife-edges and the weighing mechanism, arelieving-gear, comprising means for lifting the frame of thetrack-platform off the knifeedges of the weighing mechanism; a series ofmovable blocks on the frame of the track-bed; and means forsimultaneously shifting said blocks so as to insert the same in positionfor supporting the track-platform clear of the knife-edges and towithdraw such blocks again; the means for lifting the platform-frame,and the means for shifting the position of the supporting-blocksoperating independently of each other, substantially as described.

2. In a railroad-scales, in combination with a track-platform, the frameof the track-bed, the knife-edges and the Weighing mechanism, arelieving-gear comprising means for lifting the frame of thetrack-platform off the knifeedges of the Weighing mechanism; a series ofmovable blocks on the frame of the track-bed, and means forsimultaneously shifting said blocks so as to insert the same in positionfor supporting the track-platform clear of the knife-edges, and towithdraw such blocks again; the means for lifting the platformframe, andthe means for shifting the position of the supporting-blocks operatingindependently of each other, and the means for lifting theplatform-frame being adapted to be operated by hand, acting only whileunder manual control, and dropping the platform on its normal supportagain the instant such control is released, substantially as described.

3. In a railroad-scales, in combination with a track-platform, the frameof the track-bed, the knife-edges and the weighing mechanism, arelieving-gear, comprising a series of transversely-journaled shafts onthe frame of the track-bed; cams on such shaft adapted to lift againstthe frame of the traclcplatform so as to raise the latter off theknife-edges of the weighing mechanism; arms or levers rigidly mounted onsuch shafts, respectively; a sprocketwvheel gear, including ahand-wheel; operative connections between such sprocketwheel gear andsuch arms and levers; a series of movable blocks on the frame of thetrack-- bed, and means for simultaneously shifting such blocks, adaptedto insert the same in position for supporting the track-platform clearof the knife-edges, and to withdraw such blocks again, said means forshifting said blocks opcratingindependently of the said liftingmechanism, substantially as described.

4. In a railroad-scales, in combination with a track-platform, the frameof the track-bed, the knife-edges and the weighing mechanism, arelieving-gear, comprising means for lifting the frame of thetrack-platform off the knifeedges of the weighing mechanism; aseries oflongitudinally-sliding blocks on the frame of the track-bed; avertically-fulcrumed lever, and operative connections between such leverand said sliding blocks, adapted to operate the latter simultaneously,substantially as described.

5. In a railroad-scales, in combination with a track-platform, the frameof the track-bed, the knife-edges and the weighingmechanism, arelieving-gear, comprising a series of transversely-journaled shafts onthe frame of the track-bed; cams on such shafts adapted to lift againstthe frame of the track-platform, so as to raise the latter off theknife-edges of the weighing mechanism; arms or levers rigidly mounted onsuch shafts, respectively; a sprocket-wheel gear, including a.hand-wheel; operative connections between such sprocketwheel gear, andsuch arms or levers; a series of longitudinally-sliding blocks on theframe of the track-bed; a vertically-fulcrumed lever, and operativeconnections between such lever and said sliding blocks, adapted tooperate the latter simultaneously, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH PETTUS NEWELL. WVitnesses:

T. J. GmsLuR, A. CALY.

